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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Oncol. Dec 10, 2014; 5(5): 1020-1027
Published online Dec 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i5.1020
Published online Dec 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i5.1020
Estrogen receptors as the novel therapeutic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer
Hideki Kawai, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Akita Red Cross Hospital, Kamikitate, Akita 010-1495, Japan
Author contributions: Kawai H solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Hideki Kawai, MD, PhD, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Akita Red Cross Hospital, 222-1 Naeshirosawa, Saruta, Kamikitate, Akita 010-1495, Japan. kawai-h@akita-rch.com
Telephone: +81-18-8295000 Fax: +81-18-8295255
Received: May 16, 2014
Revised: June 23, 2014
Accepted: September 6, 2014
Published online: December 10, 2014
Processing time: 209 Days and 0.5 Hours
Revised: June 23, 2014
Accepted: September 6, 2014
Published online: December 10, 2014
Processing time: 209 Days and 0.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Although there were many studies regarding the role of estrogen receptor (ER) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the rate of ER expression or the intracellular distribution of ER remains controversial. This suggests that establishing the relationship between ER expression and prognosis will require standardization of the antibodies used as well as the definition of a positive response. Furthermore, there has been little functional analysis for ER variants. This review will focus on what is known about the role of ERs in NSCLC and whether ER can be a useful prognostic marker or therapeutic target in NSCLC.